Gurugram/Patna: SGT University in Gurugram brought together some of the country’s leading educationists, policymakers and institutional heads on Tuesday to mark the five-year milestone of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, hosting the “Higher Education Leaders Conclave 2025” in collaboration with several prominent institutions including the University of Lucknow and Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna.
Titled “Reimagining Indian Education: Legacy, Policy, and Nation-Building in the Light of NEP 2020,” the conclave served as a forum for national-level dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in implementing NEP reforms across Indian higher education.
Over 40 vice-chancellors, academic experts, and policy voices gathered to exchange perspectives on equitable access, skill development, and the digital future of education.
Padma Bhushan recipient and Chancellor of SGT University, Ram Bahadur Rai, opened the conclave with a sharp call to “free education from bureaucracy” and launched the institution’s new UGC-approved “SGTU Online” platform aimed at expanding access to flexible, learner-centric education.
Vice-Chancellors Prof. Hemant Verma (SGT University), Prof. Umesh Rai (University of Jammu), Prof. Parmendra Kumar Bajpai (Jai Prakash University), and Dr. A.D.N. Bajpai (Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya), among others, participated in thematic sessions on the future of teaching, institutional autonomy, and localising NEP frameworks.
Speaking at the event, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, former MP and Vice Chairperson of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, highlighted the importance of effective implementation, stating: “NEP reimagines education, but its success depends entirely on delivery.”
The conclave concluded with a valedictory session and book launch attended by former Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, who offered a more philosophical critique of education reform, reminding delegates that “policy and technology alone cannot transform education—we must not lose sight of compassion and the teacher-student relationship.”
The event also saw the launch of Educating India: Colonialism and Indigenous Knowledge Traditions, c. 1780–1900 by Prof. Amit K. Suman of Delhi University, reflecting on pre-colonial learning systems and their disruption during British rule.
The conclave underscored SGT University’s positioning as a key thought leader in shaping the evolving higher education landscape, with a stated mission to align Indian values with global academic standards.
